Texas Rangers Maintain Playoff Contention with Rookie Fill-Ins Amid Injuries

The Texas Rangers have surged back into playoff contention despite being hit hard by injuries to key players like Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, and Nathan Eovaldi. A group of young rookies and less-expected contributors, including Michael Helman, Cody Freeman, Dustin Harris, Alejandro Osuna, and Jacob Latz, have stepped up to drive the team's recent success, helping the Rangers win 12 of their last 16 games. Helman notably hit a grand slam against the Milwaukee Brewers, and Freeman has been versatile, playing multiple positions and contributing to an 11-5 record in his starts. The Rangers are now within 3 1/2 games of the AL West-leading Houston Astros, just 1 1/2 games behind Seattle, and hold a slight edge over Cleveland for the American League's final wild card spot. Manager Bruce Bochy praised the younger players for consistently making game-changing contributions during this stretch. With 17 games remaining, including a crucial series in Houston, the Rangers are making a strong push toward the postseason largely fueled by their rookie fill-ins.